Coordinated intervention is planned in response to government's plea for assistance.

July 5, 2007

By Dana Palade, Communications Manager

Deadly Tropical Cyclone Yemyin hit Pakistan's southern provinces of Balochistan and Sindh on June 26 with furious strength.

Latest estimates indicate at least 300 people are confirmed dead or missing, and an additional 1.5 million have been affected. Cyclonic winds of more than 80 miles per hour, coupled with heavy rains and subsequent flooding, have left some 150,000 to 200,000 people homeless.

Fourteen districts in Balochistan and four districts in Sindh province have been affected. Balochistan's power and water supplies have reportedly been destroyed.

World Vision Responds

World Vision is responding to help alleviate the suffering of the Pakistani residents who were hit hardest.

This decision is in response to the Pakistani government's request this week for international donors and aid agencies to contribute toward the massive relief and rehabilitation efforts that are required.

"Our operations strategy is to work through implementing partners," explains Graham Strong, World Vision's national director in Pakistan. "We will coordinate with other international and local nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) that had a presence in the affected area prior to the disaster."

Strong adds that his staff will continue to monitor the situation, as well as survivors' needs. Current plans are to provide the much-needed aid for nine months. “Our response will focus on critical areas such as health, education, water and sanitation, shelter and non-food items distribution."

Destruction

The Pakistani government is still obtaining final damage figures, since the Balochistan province makes up 44 percent of the country's landmass, and the scale of loss and destruction is so vast. A state of emergency has been declared in the province's worst-affected districts. Through its National Disaster Management Authority, Pakistan's government has organized rescue missions and set up camps for storm evacuees. Re-enacting its effective intervention strategy following the October 2005 Pakistan earthquake, the Pakistani army provided relief goods to the 14 worst affected districts.
		INTERACTIVE View a slideshow detailing Cyclone Yemyin's aftermath, and listen to a Moody Broadcasting Network interview with World Vision's Pakistan communications officer.

'Considerable Logistic Challenges'

Relief interventions in southern Pakistan — just under 1,000 miles distant from World Vision's program areas in the North West Frontier province — may well encounter major difficulties, Strong explains. Balochistan, which occupies 44 percent of Pakistan's total landmass, contains just 5 percent of its population.

"Access to scattered groups of populations is very difficult," says Strong. "We can count on the professionalism of our team, and the collaboration with our partners, but there are considerable logistic challenges."

More Heavy Rains Expected

The Pakistan Meteorological Department has warned that a low-pressure system is expected to reach Sindh and Balochistan provinces this week; this weather development is considered dangerous, as more gusty winds and heavy rains will hit areas already severely damaged by Yemyin.

Though World Vision's work in the North West Frontier province has been hit by heavy rains related to last week's cyclone, operations have not as yet been affected by the harsh weather.